According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), there were plenty of firms hiring new employees, yet the United States saw a different story in the number of jobs that were actually filled in the private sector. So, what gives?

The chart above illustrates  NABE’s net hiring, which indicates the following:

• 31% of firms were hiring
• 14% were laying people off

Of the firms that were hiring:

• 33% were goods-producing firms
• 31% were finance, insurance and real estate related
• 23% were transportation related

What does this all mean?

In short, it seems as if the general trend for businesses is to hold off on hiring large numbers of employees until they have more proof that the United States economy is stabilizing. However, while waiting around for this to happen, they could be waiting a while longer as many of us are unsure as to what exactly the future holds for the future of the economy with an almost certain increase in inflation rates as well as continued layoffs.

Small businesses have to work especially hard, not only to retain employees but also to keep up with the larger competition. In order to stay afloat, many companies are becoming creative, latching on to new and improved social media campaigns as well as more personalized attention to valued customers, something that may prove to be effective in the long run.

(Via: The Atlantic)

*Image by orcmid on Flickr

If it was possible to make a living off of being completely unproductive or simply wasting your day away doing everything but the very work that you were supposed to do, then I’m willing to bet that most of us would be millionnaires several times over by now. Meanwhile, back in real life, decreased productivity usually correlates with decreased funds and an increased chance that you’ll be out of a job. Therefore, the folks over at HealthMoneySuccess offer some of the following tips on things we should stop doing in order to increase our likelihood of staying productive and gainfully employed. To see the full list of all 33 things, visit the original blog post here.

10 Things You Should Stop Doing

1. Reading all of the productivity blogs that you can find- Pick and choose one or two blogs to read daily, and stream them through an RSS feed, this way you’re less likely to surf the web aimlessly (see #3).
2. Spending too much time on social media sites (i.e. Facebook and Twitter)-Social media sites like these are incredibly addicting and can suck up large chunks of time without you even realizing it. Unless it’s for business, avoid it.
3. Surfing online aimlessly-Surfing online leads to more surfing, which leads to more surfing which leads to nothing getting accomplished. Try to avoid it while you are working, or at best, limit yourself to only a few minutes at a time when you need the occasional ‘mental break’.
4. Saying yes to every request-It’s ok to say ‘no’ to your boss when he or she is trying to dole out too much work to you. As long as your focus is on quality versus quantity and it is within reason, avoid taking on additional responsibilities that you know you won’t be able to handle.
5. Checking emails every 5 minutes-It can be incredibly tempting to check your email between having a smartphone that alerts you every two seconds when there’s something in your inbox to having your inbox open on your screen. Instead, try to go for a block of time, say an hour or so, without checking your email. It will be less distracting.
6. Buying cheaper electrical appliances or gadgets-You know that saying, ‘you get what you pay for’? Yup. It’s better to invest in quality appliances that will last you versus ones that will break more frequently.
7. Cluttering your wardrobe-The Salvation Army is always looking for generous donations. If you find yourself spending more time looking for things to get dressed in, you probably have too many clothes. Time to donate to charity.
8. Finding your keys, cell phone and wallet-Make a designated area where you will always leave your keys and wallet, this way you don’t have to wonder where they are when you are going out.
9. Losing your way-It’s always best to plan out where you are going ahead of time so that you don’t waste time.
10. Saving money manually-Automated is the way to go. Look for ways to have money automatically transferred from one account to the other so that you don’t have to waste time either online or “on line” doing it yourself.

(Via HealthMoneySuccess)

Are you entrepreneur material? The following are several questions you can ask yourself in order to get an idea:

• Am I passionate about any one thing?
• Am I a dreamer?
• Am I always looking for other opportunities to better myself?
• Do I have a problem with authority figures?
• Do I want to be in control?

While these questions aren’t necessarily a means to an end, it seems as if most entrepreneur-type people lean towards these sorts of tendencies.

Start Thinking Like an Entrepreneur

With the last couple of years in the middle of a recession being rough on a lot of people, many have had time to re-think their career goals. What’s even more is that some of these people have decided to throw caution to the wind as they pursue their lifelong dreams and goals to be their own boss. Of these people, some have succeeded while others have floundered. But what is it about successful entrepreneurs that puts them a step above the rest of us in the scramble to work for ourselves?

In order to be an entrepreneur, you have to start thinking like one. The following examples are just five ways in which you can begin the process of thinking like an entrepreneur:

1. Don’t Fear Failure- Failure is often how we learn our toughest lessons. Don’t view it as a failure, but as a way in which something didn’t work. Learn something from the experience and try again.
2. Be Innovative- Too often, you will find that several people have had the same idea while one person really stands out. What is it about that one person who stands out? What ideas do you have that others don’t?
3. Be Gentle to Those Around You- If, one day, you make it big, there is no doubt that you wouldn’t have done it alone. Everyone has been successful in some aspect of their lives has had to accept help at some point from others around them. Be kind to these people when you are on top because should you falter, you may need their help.
4. Be Confident; Not Cocky- No one likes an ego-maniac. Similarly, however, no one will take you seriously if you lack confidence. This is a delicate balance that you must master while remaining somewhat realistic in your expectations of yourself, your business and others around you.
5. Be Persistent- If it was easy, everyone would do it.